Fire Law Podcast – FDNY Disability Pension Used to Settle Discrimination Suit

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Posted by: Curt Varone 12 hours ago 0

In this edition of Fire Law, Curt discusses the controversial settlement of an FDNY discrimination suit with Attorney Peter J. Gleason, himself a retired FDNY firefighter. Peter represented FDNY firefighter Kevin Simpkins who was awarded a disability pension earlier this year. The settlement made for sensational headlines. Consider the following from the NY Post on May 22, 2015:

He’s had a much better run in court than battling fires.

Twelve-year FDNY firefighter Kevin Simpkins — the public face for a racial-discrimination class action by minority firefighters the city settled for $98 million — has won another jackpot from the de Blasio administration.

Under a settlement finalized with the city and filed in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, the litigious firefighter will retire at a 75 percent disability pension.

Let’s go beyond the headlines.

Mentioned in the Podcast:

KSimpkins2FDelValle

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ABOUT CURT VARONE

Curt Varone has over 40 years of fire service experience and 30 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.